Awning

ABSTRACT

A self-supporting awning in which thermal insulation in panel means of the awining serve both to keep heat from building up underneath the awning and to make the awning self-supporting. The awning includes a rectangular panel and two triangular side panels hinged to opposte sides of the rectangular panel so that the side panels will hold the rectangular panel in a raised awning position. The side panels are foldable against the rectangular panel so that it can be placed against and directly over a window in a wall surface.

United States Patent [1 1 Greenspan AWNING Inventor: Nathan Greenspan, 2647 Polk,

Hollywood, Fla. 33020 Filed: July 31, 1972 Appl. No.: 276,664

U.S. Cl 160/58, 49/71, 160/88, 160/183 Int. Cl E041 10/10, E06b 7/28 Field of Search 160/22, 20, 58, 183, 160/88, 199, 56, 62, 81, 83; 52/74, 76, 77, 202; 49/63, 67, 61, 71; 135/1 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith 160/81 160/62 160/183 160/84 X 7/1956 Goring 5/ 1957 Rostonski 4/1958 Sweem June 26, 1973 2,867,273 1/1959 Brennan et a1. .1 49/71 x 3,407,546 10/1968 Yates et al. 135/1 R x 3,598,133 8/1971 Albert 6181 135 1 R Primary Examiner-David .1. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-John H. Oltman et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A self-supporting awning in which thermal insulation in panel means of the'awining serve both to keep heat from building up underneath the awning and to make the awning self-supporting. The awning includes a rectangular panel and two triangular side panels hinged to opposte sides of the rectangular panel so that the side panels will hold the rectangular panel in a raised awning position. The side panels are foldable against the rectangular panel so that it can be placed against and directly over a window in a wall surface.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures AWNING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many applications for awnings, and particularly in connection with awnings for trailers and mobile homes, there has been a need for a self-contained and selfsupporting awning which could be obtained as a stock item and attached to a wall surface. A problem with existing awnings is that heat tends to build up underneath them when they are in a raised position. Also, some existing awnings have been too heavy, bulky and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a self-contained awning which consists basically of three panels that are 1 self-supporting in either a raised awning position or a closed awning position. In a preferred embodiment, there is a rectangular panel and two triangular side panels which are hingedly connected to opposite edges of the reactangular panel. All of the panels include rigid thermal insulation sandwiched between covering layers, and the thermal insulation serves to rigidify the panels so that the awning is self-supporting and also serve to keep heat from building up underneath the awning. A heat-reflecting metal sheet may also be included between the covering layers adjacent the thermal insulation for reflecting heat and further rigidifying the panels. Fastening means is also provided.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an awning in which thermal insulation provides both support for the panels of the awning and heat-insulation so that heat does not adversely build up underneath the awning.

Another object of the invention is to provide an awning consisting basically of three panels hinged together including two triangular side panels which are capable of supporting a rectangular panel in a raised awning position and which are foldable to allow the rectangular panel to be closed over a window.

A further object of the invention is to provide an awning which includes thermal insulation and optionally includes a heat-reflecting metal sheet.

A further object of the invention is to incorporate simple fastening means into the awning.

Among the other objects of the invention are to provide an awning which is simple, reliable in operation, durable, and capable of being manufactured and distributed on a mass production basis.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an awning in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the awning of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view of the awning in a closed position; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating fastening means for the awning.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The awning 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in a raised position on a wall surface 12 and in FIG. 2 in a closed position on the wall surface 12. The awning 10 consists basically of three panel means 14, 16 and 18. Panel means 14 is rectangular and the two side panel means 16 and 18 are triangular. Panel means 16 is hingedly connected at a joint 20 to one side edge of panel means 14, and panel means 18 is hingedly connected to the opposite side edge of panel means 14 at a joint 22. Thus, the side panel means 16 and 18 may be positioned perpendicular to the panel means 14 to support the same in a raised awning position projecting angularly out from the wall surface 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Optionally, the side panels 16 and 18 may be folded inwardly against the rectangular panel means 14 in the manner shown in FIG. 4 so that the rectangular panel means 14 can be placed against the wall surface 12 to cover a window 24.

The construction of each of the panel means l4, l6 and 18 is illustrated by the layer arrangement shown in FIG. 2. It may be seen there that panel means 14 includes a rigid thermally insulating layer 26 sandwiched between two flexible covering layers 28 and 30. The thermally insulating layer 26 is preferably made of rigid foamed or beaded plastic material such as that sold under the tradmark Styrofoam. The flexible covering layers 28 and 30 may be made of heat sealable plastic such as vinyl plastic material. The panel means 14 may optionally include a rigid, heat-reflecting metal sheet 32 which further serves to rigidify the panel means and also helps to reflect heat so that it does not tend to build up underneath the awning. When the sheet 32 is omitted from the awning, the thermal insulation panel 26 makes the panel 14 self-supporting and also serves to make the panel 14 thermally insulating so that heat does not tend to build up underneath the awning to an adverse extent.

All of the panel means 14, 16 and 18 may be of identically the same layer construction consisting of layers 26, 28, 30 and optionally, 32. All of the layers just referred to are coextensive.

A fastening strip 34 is hingedly connected to the top edge 36 of the rectangular panel means 14. The strip 34 includes eyelets 38 which fasten to studs 40. Another fastening strip 42 may be hingedly connected to the lower edge 44 of the rectangular panel means 14. The strip 42 includes eyelets 46 for fastening to studs 48 along the lower side of the window 24 to secure the panel 14 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 4. Fastening tabs 50 and 52 including eyelets 54 may be attached to the lower part of the triangular panel means 16 and 18. The latter fastening means fasten to studs 48 when the awning is in a raised position as shown in FIG. 1.

Each of the fastening strips and tabs may have the construction shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, a section of the strip 42 and one of the eyelets 46 is shown fastened to a stud 48. The stud 48 may have a threaded portion 58 received in a tubular insert 60 in the wall 12. The body of the stud 48 projects outwardly from the wall 12. The strip 42 consists of an extension of the covering layers 28 and 30 with a stiffening strip 62 sandwiched between them. The eyelet 46 extends through all these layers. The stud 48 may have a depressible catch 64 which will catch the eyelet 46 when it is slipped over the stud 48, and which will release the eyelet when the catch 64 is depressed.

The covering layers 28 and 30 are sealed together to form all of the joints at 20, 22, 36, 44, 51 and 53. The covering layers are also sealed together around the pe-' riphery of all of the panels and strips to form sealed perimeter edges. The sealing may be accomplished by known heat sealing techniques since the covering layers are heat sealable plastic material such as vinyl plastic.

Although the awning is shown attached to the wall 12 of a building, it will be understood that the awning may also be attached in exactly the same manner described herein to a trailer or mobile home. It is believed that the awning is particularly suitable for mobile home use. The awning is entirely self-supporting and selfcontained, and is relatively easy to manufacture, store, ship and distribute. The support for the awning may be provided solely by the thermal insulating panels, or the thermal insulation may be augmented by heatreflecting metal sheets for added rigidity and heat protection.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. An awning comprising:

a rectangular panel,

fastening means hingedly connected to at least one major edge of said rectangular panel, first and second triangular panels hingedly connected respectively to side edges of said rectangular panel adjoining said one edge,

and further fastening means connected to said triangular panels,

all of said fastening means serving in operation to fasten said panels to 'a surface in a raised awning configuration,

said triangular panels being foldable against said rectangular panel so that said rectangular panel may be placed flat against said surface,

and each of said panels including rigid thermal insulation between flexible covering layers to reduce heat build-up under said awning and make said awning self-supporting.

2. The awning as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said panels further includes a heat-reflecting metal sheet adjoining said thermal insulation between said flexible covering layers to reflect heat and further rigidify said panels.

3. The awning as claimed in claim 1 including further fastening means hingedly connected to another major edge of said rectangular panel opposite said one major edge.

4. The awning as claimed in claim 3 in which each of said fastening means comprises a strip having eyelets for connection to studs on said surface.

5. The awning as claimed in claim 4 in which said flexible covering layers consist of plastic material.

6. The awning as claimed in claim 5 in which said flexible covering layers are sealed to each other to form joints between said panels.

7. The awning as claimed in claim 6 in which said plastic covering layers are sealed to each other and form joints between said rectangular panel and each of said fastening strip means.

8. An awning comprising:

I a rectangular panel means consisting of a rigid thermal insulating panel sandwiched between two flexible covering layers,

first and second triangular panel means each consisting of a rigid thermal insulating panel sandwiched between two flexible covering layers,

said first and second triangular panel means being hingedly connected respectively to side edges of said rectangular panel which are opposed to each other,

fastening means hingedly connected to at least one major edge of said rectangular panel between said side edges for fastening said panels to a wall surface in a raised awning configuration in which said triangular panel means supports said rectangular panel means in a raised awning position,

said triangular panel means being foldable against said rectangular panel means so that said rectangular panel means may be placed flat against said surface for covering a window in said surface.

9. The awning as claimed in claim 8 in which each of said panel means further includes a rigid thermally reflecting metal sheet between said covering layers for reflecting heat and to further make said panel means self-supporting.

10. The awning as claimed in claim 9 in which said sheets and said panels are coextensive respectively.

11. The awning as claimed in claim 10 in which said covering layers consist of heat scalable plastic material, with said covering layers being sealed together at joints between said panel means to provide hinged connections between said panel means.

12. The awning as claimed in claim 11 in which said fastening means consists of a strip hingedly connected to said rectangular panel andincluding eyelet means for fastening said strip to studs projecting from said surface. 

1. An awning comprising: a rectangular panel, fastening means hingedly connected to at least one major edge of said rectangular panel, first and second triangular panels hingedly connected respectively to side edges of said rectangular panel adjoining said one edge, and further fastening means connected to said triangular panels, all of said fastening means serving in operation to fasten said panels to a surface in a raised awning configuration, said triangular panels being foldable against said rectangular panel so that said rectangular panel may be placed flat against said surface, and each of said panels including rigid thermal insulation between flexible covering layers to reduce heat build-up under said awning and make said awning self-supporting.
 2. The awning as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said panels further includes a heat-reflecting metal sheet adjoining said thermal insulation between said flexible covering layers to reflect heat and further rigidify said panels.
 3. The awning as claimed in claim 1 including further fastening means hingedly connected to another major edge of said rectangular panel opposite said one major edge.
 4. The awning as claimed in claim 3 in which each of said fastening means comprises a strip having eyelets for connection to studs on said surface.
 5. The awning as claimed in claim 4 in which said flexible covering layers consist of plastic material.
 6. The awning as claimed in claim 5 in which said flexible covering layers are sealed to each other to form joints between said panels.
 7. The awning as claimed in claim 6 in which said plastic covering layers are sealed to each other and form joints between said rectangular panel and each of said fastening strip means.
 8. An awning comprising: a rectangular panel means consisting of a rigid thermal insulating panel sandwiched between two flexible covering layers, first and second triangular panel means each consisting of a rigid thermal insulating panel sandwiched between two flexible covering layers, said first and second triangular panel means being hingedly connected respectively to side edges of said rectangular panel which are opposed to each other, fastening means hingedly connected to at least one major edge of said rectangular panel between said side edges for fastening said panels to a wall surface in a raised awning configuration in which said triangular panel means supports said rectangular panel means in a raised awning position, said triangular panel means being foldable against said rectangular panel means so that said rectangular panel means may be placed flat Against said surface for covering a window in said surface.
 9. The awning as claimed in claim 8 in which each of said panel means further includes a rigid thermally reflecting metal sheet between said covering layers for reflecting heat and to further make said panel means self-supporting.
 10. The awning as claimed in claim 9 in which said sheets and said panels are coextensive respectively.
 11. The awning as claimed in claim 10 in which said covering layers consist of heat sealable plastic material, with said covering layers being sealed together at joints between said panel means to provide hinged connections between said panel means.
 12. The awning as claimed in claim 11 in which said fastening means consists of a strip hingedly connected to said rectangular panel and including eyelet means for fastening said strip to studs projecting from said surface. 